Squamish wildfire increases to 54 hectares but sees minimal growth overnight
Posted June 12, 2025 7:03 am.
Last Updated June 12, 2025 3:28 pm.
Campers and day trippers were forced to pack up and leave Alice Lake Provincial Park Wednesday evening, as authorities proactively evacuated the area due to the growing Dryden Creek wildfire in Squamish.
The fire at the north end of the town grew to more than 54 hectares, from its previous measurement of 20 hectares just hours earlier, as southerly winds pushed the fire front north.
In an update Thursday afternoon, Chief Aaron Foote with Squamish Fire Rescue says the good news is that the blaze saw only minimal growth overnight, thanks to decreased temperatures and the increased potential for rain.
“Currently, we have 50 BC Wildfire crews on scene focusing on containment of the fire — structural and critical infrastructure protection,” Foote said.
“The aircraft were able to get up early this morning and started bucketing because the smoke conditions were very favourable.”
The District of Squamish says the evacuation of the provincial park was a precaution as the flames have been moving toward its access route. While evacuation alerts are still in place, nobody has had to leave their homes because of the fire at this point.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Squamish resident Michael Ames tells 1130 NewsRadio that the lack of options to get in and out of some areas of the district has him worried.
“My wife, son, and I live in Paradise Valley, which is one of the two main valleys on the other side of Alice Lake, about 10 minutes from Squamish. It’s part of Brackendale and Squamish, but it’s definitely quite a different area than the city itself,” he explained.
Ames says he could hear trees cracking as the flames made the hills glow on Wednesday.
“The fire is really in between us and Squamish, off the highway, and one of the big concerns is that, the city has been doing a great job with the fire teams and departments, but they seem to be very focused, which makes sense, on keeping the fire out of the city’s main areas, which is, of course, good. There’s been very little talk about the concern for the valleys, which are from the city to Whistler, as opposed to away from Vancouver,” he added.
“So, one of our other big concerns is that we have one main driving entrance and exit into our valley. So if the valley does get cut off from the highway, once the fire spreads a bit, it would be very hard to leave this area. We also don’t have a fire hall that’s close by, and we’re all on wells. So we don’t have fire hydrants or any city fire support within quite a range.”
The red line shows where the wildfire is in relation to the Squamish neighbourhood of Brackendale on Wednesday. (Courtesy BC Wildfire Service)
As of Wednesday night, around 50 BC Wildfire Service firefighters and Squamish Fire Rescue personnel were battling the flames. Five helicopters and four airtankers had also joined the fight, with heavy equipment and structure protection working on the ground.
Ames says he and his neighbours live on densely forested lots, around about 10 acres in size, and have livestock, birds, and other animals that need to be evacuated too, if it comes to that.
“There’s about 20 of us in our area, and again, with very little outside support resources that can come quickly,” he said, adding that his property is west of the current evacuation alert zone.
He explains that he and his family have been preparing for days in the event they do need to leave, but hopes that they won’t have to drop everything at a moment’s notice.
“I can’t have an hour or two’s notice to leave the land without leaving quite a lot of things behind. So that means setting up animals and trailers, putting animals in multiple vehicles, multiple trailer setups, and finding locations that they can safely go,” Ames said.
“I have high hopes that the fire will be dealt with soon, but it’s hard to judge the information, just because, the city of Squamish being protected doesn’t mean we are,” he explained.
“It’s quite early in the year for fires. So even if this one gets corrected, then there’s still a big concern, of course, for what the rest of this season holds.”
Thursday’s weather will bring slight reprieve: 1130 meteorologist
While enough rain to put out the fire won’t be seen for a long while yet, 1130 NewsRadio Meteorologist Michael Kuss explains that the humidity index is going to be higher Thursday, with temperatures cooler over the next couple of days.
“Highs will be just in the teens. Today, winds are still gusty out of the south through the afternoon, and warming up slightly tomorrow, but it’s an overcast day with highs in the low 20s,” Kuss explained.
“Over the next long range, five to seven days, temperatures are going to be down. Still, a chance for some showers today, but highs in that stretch, looking all the way out through the middle of next week, aren’t going to be any warmer than 21 to 23 degrees.”
Kuss adds that overnight temperatures will also be cool.
The Squamish RCMP says it is actively investigating the cause of the Dryden Creek wildfire.
“We believe there were individuals on the trail around the time the fire started who may have information,” Staff Sgt. Gareth Bradley said. “We encourage anyone who was out walking or hiking in the area to contact police, even if you think what you saw isn’t important. Sometimes the smallest detail can make a big difference.”
Anyone with information is being urged to call the Squamish RCMP at 604-892-6100.
— With files from Srushti Gangdev.
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